The Charlotte City Council is considering changes to its Tree Ordinance that could adversely affect future infill development. During the last two weeks, city staff has briefed members of the Environment Committee as well as the Transportation and Planning Committee on some issues that have arisen in several neighborhoods.

As it stands now, the Tree Ordinance grants higher densities to developers who establish larger tree save areas and this has caused some in existing neighborhoods to complain to members of City Council about the resulting smaller lot sizes. As such, several Council Members have asked that revisions be made and that the process be fast tracked.

City Staff says there are 13 examples during the last two years of developers using Section 21-95 of the ordinance to subdivide larger lots into smaller ones by increasing the amount of trees that are saved. Apparently there are also 8 additional examples currently in process. Neighbors and some Council Members have argued that the use of the provision is destroying the character of neighborhoods. Upon further review, however, the neighborhoods cited by staff, where this is occurring, appear to have quite diverse types of housing stock already.

Large Tudor — original house was scraped and replaced several years ago.

House across the street from the Tudor.

New homes around the corner built almost to the edge of lot lines.

City staff will be making a presentation on this important topic to the Charlotte Chamber’s Land Use Committee on Wednesday, May 25th, at 8 a.m. For more information and to register, CLICK HERE.

REBIC will continue to work with Council Members and staff to encourage any and all incentives to promote future infill development.